Somerset West and Taunton

Somerset West and Taunton's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population passed 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Somerset West and Taunton increased by 5.5%, from just over 137,000 to 145,000.

The addition of just under 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Somerset West and Taunton was home to, on average, 0.87 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Somerset West and Taunton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Somerset West and Taunton increased by three years, from 42 to 45 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 13% of people in Somerset West and Taunton are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Somerset West and Taunton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Somerset West and Taunton

The proportion of married people fell in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

During this period, Somerset West and Taunton went from having the 22nd-highest to the 11th-lowest percentage of married people out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton, which comprised one person, remained close to 31% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 35% to 34%.

The proportion of one-person households fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton without children remained close to 66% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.7% to 8.2%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 64% in 2001 to 65% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Somerset West and Taunton

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.4% to 7.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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